By Alexis Dobranowski (Vaughan Today)
The province today announced a $7 million infusion into the future Vaughan hospital.
MPP Greg Sorbara made the announcement this morning at the Vaughan Community Health Centre .
"This planning grant, along with the new partnership between York Central Hospital and the Vaughan Health Campus of Care is a giant step forward in the completion of a hospital in the city of Vaughan," Sorbara said. "It is a tribute to the dedication and hardwork of all of those people who have helped in this initiative over the past several years."
With continued effort, Vaughanians will see shovels in the ground in no time, he said.
The $7 million is to be used for the master planning phase of the hospital, said Michael DeGasperis, Vaughan Health Campus of Care chair.
It's difficult to say how long that planning will take, he said, adding he aims to have the planning done in six to eight months. The process then moves onto to the master programming followed by the business case and final approval.
But Thornhill MPP Peter Shurman said the latest provincial grant doesn't guarantee a hospital in Vaughan.
"The funding announced today is a welcomed and long overdue, but is still missing the government's commitment for the full development of the Vaughan hospital," he said in a press release after the announcement.
DeGasperis nixed that idea.
"I don't suspect there'd be any cancellation (of the project)," he said. "They've invested a lot of money into it."